 |
| Chen Zheyuan and Li Yitong Set Hunan TV Spring Festival Gala 2026 Alight with Intense Duet (Photo: Hunan TV) |
Chen Zheyuan and Li Yitong turned the 2026 Hunan TV Spring Festival Gala into their own stage moment on 11 February 2026, delivering a duet that instantly became one of the most talked-about highlights of the night. Their performance of How To Do didn’t just fill the studio with applause, it sent social media into overdrive within minutes.
From the very first note, the atmosphere shifted. The arrangement of How To Do leaned heavily into emotion, allowing both Chen Zheyuan and Li Yitong to play with tension and restraint. Their eye contact felt deliberate, their movements measured, and the connection between them was impossible to ignore.
Viewers at home and audiences in the studio quickly picked up on that spark, turning their duet into a hot topic across platforms.
The climax moment is what truly pushed it into viral territory. Midway through the emotional peak of the song, Chen Zheyuan suddenly pulled the microphone they were sharing, drawing Li Yitong closer into his space.
What followed was a prolonged, intense gaze that lasted over ten seconds. No dramatic choreography, no exaggerated gestures, just silence and eye contact.
He then slowly stepped back, creating a push-and-pull dynamic that mirrored the song’s possessive and longing lyrics. That single gesture became the clip everyone replayed.
 |
| Hunan TV |
Visually, the contrast only amplified the effect. Li Yitong stunned in a striking red gown, commanding attention under the stage lights. Chen Zheyuan, dressed in an all-black leather outfit with a deep V-neck cut, brought a darker, edgier energy.
The red-and-black pairing created a bold stage image that enhanced the emotional undercurrent of the performance. Every glance, every subtle shift in posture felt heightened against that dramatic colour contrast.
On Weibo, the duet began trending for two very different reasons. First, fans couldn’t stop analysing the intimacy of the stage interaction.
 |
Screenshots of the mic-pull moment circulated rapidly, with many calling it one of the most intense live duet scenes seen at a Spring Festival Gala in recent years.
Secondly, beyond the viral clip, a large number of viewers praised their live vocals and emotional delivery. Comments highlighted how stable their singing was despite the close staging and heavy atmosphere.
Fan reactions, however, were varied and lively. Some viewers were fully convinced by the chemistry, describing it as “cinematic” and “like a drama scene unfolding live.” Others took a more measured view, suggesting the interaction was carefully choreographed to match the lyrics rather than spontaneous.
A few netizens even debated whether the viral moment overshadowed the actual vocal performance. Still, the general consensus leaned positive, with many agreeing that the duet elevated the overall energy of the 2026 Hunan TV Spring Festival Gala.
THE WAY ZHEYUAN SNACTHED HER MIC AND THEY SHARED ONE WHEN THE LYRICS GO “I WANT YOU TO MYSELF” 😵💫😵💫 pic.twitter.com/ZjA44Hcgrn
— 彩☁️ (@chenzheyuanzi) February 11, 2026
Industry watchers have also pointed out that such performances are crucial for stars in maintaining public buzz at the start of the year. By blending strong vocals, visual storytelling, and a slightly provocative stage dynamic, Chen Zheyuan and Li Yitong managed to dominate post-gala discussions without saying a single word offstage.
As one of the earliest major entertainment events of 2026, the gala set the tone for the months ahead, and this duet will likely remain one of its defining clips.
What do you think about Chen Zheyuan and Li Yitong’s How To Do performance? Was the mic-pull moment the highlight, or did their vocals impress you more? Drop your thoughts and let’s see where everyone stands on this